AFQUIK.TXT
Quick-Start instructions for the Aircraft Factory
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by Bryant Arnett



Remember the last time you built a model airplane?  It may have been 
a complex balsa wood masterpiece meticulously carved from scratch, 
or a single sheet of paper folded in just the right places. The 
basic principle, however, was the same:  You took the necessary 
parts and put them together in just the right way to create your 
finished product.  In the old days, we would clear off the dining 
room table, spread out newspaper, gather the neccessary toothpicks, 
brushes, and razor blades, and then spend the next two months 
inhaling toxic glue fumes as we attempted to convince our spouse (or 
at that time, our parents) that this was WORTH IT.  Why did we go to 
so much trouble?  Because we knew that it WAS worth it.  There is 
something really great about making a model airplane, and it's even 
greater to be able to FLY it!  Now, thanks to the Aircraft Factory, 
we can create any plane that we can imagine, and fly it through the 
vast worlds of Flight Simulator.  There is nothing quite like the 
satisfaction in watching your very own airplane take off and soar 
into the FS sky.  However, you must remember one thing:  although 
the toxic fumes are gone, the need for patience and perseverance is 
still the same as it was in the "old days".  If you want to 
immediately make a plane that looks as good as the DC-10 that comes 
with AAF, you are bound to run into a wall of frustration very 
quickly.  You should plan to start out very simple, and as you gain 
experience you will discover that your airplanes improve.  The 
purpose of this file is to get you started.  In the next ten minutes 
we are not going to make a beautiful plane, but we ARE going to make 
a plane, and it will fly, and that is a good start...

You should probably print out this file so that you can follow along 
with the directions that are soon to follow.  The more closely you 
follow the directions, the better are your chances of getting off 
the ground.  I have to assume that you have already successfully 
installed AAF and have spent a few minutes moving around from place 
to place.  You may have already put together flyable versions of the 
demo planes, too.  Now it's time to make your own first plane, so 
let's get flyin'...


QUICK START --- Getting your first plane off the ground.
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The first step begins before you open Aircraft Factory.  Use the 
File Manager (or whatever method you are comfortable with) to create 
a new directory under the AF directory.  Give this new directory a 
nice name, something like "FIRST" or something like that.

Now open Aircraft Factory.  You should be looking at the 
Administration Building screen.  Select the "FILE" menu and then 
select "Change project directory".  A window will pop up that shows 
your current project directory. Find the directory you just created 
(your "FIRST" directory) and click on it so that it is highlighted.  
Then click on the OK button.  

Press the "PARTS" button or select "Parts Shop" from the "Go to" 
menu.  You are now looking at a Parts Shop workorder.  Ignore this 
and immedeatly select "Parts Bay" from the "Go to" menu.  

Now you are looking at an empty blue print.  Draw something.  Draw 
anything. It doesn't matter what it is, just draw.  It could be 
something in the shape of an airplane, or it could be the silhouette 
of a loved one, it doesn't matter.  There will be plenty of time for 
realism later.

Now click on the "File" menu and select "Save".  You will be sent 
back to the workorder.  

Fill out the Job Description first.  Give it a description like: "My 
first part" or something just as clever.  

Now provide a file name, perhaps "First" would make a good name.  

Next, under the Construction Method select "Solid", and under the 
Function select "Standard: casting shadow".  

Now select the "File" menu and select "Save Part".  Your part is now 
saved.  

Since this is your first airplane, you are only going to make it out 
of one part for the sake of simplicity.  It's now time to assemble 
the part you have made into an actual airplane.  

Select "Assembly Line" from the "Go to" menu.  You are now looking 
at the Assembly line work order.  Ignore this for now and 
immediately select "Paint/Special Effects Shop" from the "Go to" 
menu.  

Now you are in the Paint/Special Effects Shop.  Click on the "Add to 
Assembly" menu and then select "Part".  This will open the "Parts 
Bin" window.  Since you have only created one part, you will only 
see this one part listed. It should already be highlighted so click 
on the OK button.  Now you will see "My first part <first.afp>" has 
been added to the parts list.  This means that "My first part", the 
part you just drew in the parts bay, is now a part of your 
airplane.  Select "Assembly Line" from the "Go to" menu.

You are now back at the workorder.  Fill out the Job Description 
with the name you would like to have appear in the FS4 aircraft 
menu.  I suggest "My first plane" as a good description.  

Click in the "Source SIM" box where it says "choose".  This will 
open a window that lists all of the aircraft that are currently in 
your Flight Simulator directory.  For now, select SIM1.SIM (this is 
the Cessna).  What this means is that your new airplane is going to 
fly just like the Cessna.  It does not matter what your plane is 
going to look like;  It will take off, fly through the sky, and land 
exactly like the Cessna.  

Next, give your assembly a name in the "Assembly Name" box.  "First" 
will do nicely here.  

Now click on the "Flyable" button.  You will be given an indication 
when the plane has been constructed.  Now, at last, it is time to go 
for a test flight.  Click on the "Flight Test" button and you will be
taken to Flight Simulator.  From the Aircraft Menu, select "My first 
plane".  That's all there is to it!  You should now be able to fly 
your new creation.  As I promised, it probably is not the most 
beautiful plane you have ever flown, but that is OK.  You are flying 
your own plane and that is what matters.  

What have you done?
===================
The process of making a plane is to create parts, and then add them 
to the assembly.  That's all there is to it.  We have just gone 
through this entire process in its most basic form.  From this 
point, you can start to create more complicated (and realistic) 
parts and add them to an assembly to create the plane of your 
dreams.  Creating Structures or Components is just a more 
advanced form of creating elements to be added to the final assembly.
The basic principle, however, is the same.  There are a great many 
tools available to you in the Aircraft Factory.  
The way you use them is up to you.  

The most important thing is to get started...

